Curtain-stretcher.



No. 835,271. PTENTBD NOV. 6, 1906. H. ADLER.

CURTAIN STRETGHER.

APPLICATION FILED 001212.19015.

j a SHEETS-SHEET 1.

wn'NEssEs 12., Y@ w Y jesi/:ffm Q ZAM? Q01/LUL. en/M E M PATENTED NOV.V6, l1906.

H. ADLER. CURTAIN 1SIREICHER. APPLIOATION FILED 00T.12.1905.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

INVENTOR nfrnwmzrs PETERS co., wAsmNsfoN, u. c.

No. 835,271. PATENTED NOV. 6, 1906. H. ADLER.`

CURTAIN STRETCHBR. APPLICATION FILED 001.212.1905.

3 SHEETS-SHEBT 3,

WITNESSES INVENTOR UNTTED sTATEs PATENT oEErcE.

HENRY ADLER, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO H. ADLER COMPANY,INCORPORATED, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPO- RATION OFPENNSYLVANIA.

CURTAIN-STRETCHER.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 6, 1906.

To a/ZZ tf1/wmf it' may concern.'

Be it known that I, HENRY ADLER, a resident of Pittsburg, in the countyof Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Curtain- Stretchers; and I do hereby declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

My invention relates to curtain-stretchers, and has special reference tometallic stretchers for curtains, cc. Y

The object of my invention is to provide a cheap, simple, and effectivecurtain-stretcher from sheet metal in which the parts can be easily andquickly set up `for use and separated, as well as-one which can beeasily and rapidly manufactured and will be light in weight and strongand durable when in use.

My invention consists, generally stated, in the novel arrangement,construction, and combination of parts, as hereinafter more speciiicallyset forthl and described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

To enable others skilled in the art to which my invention appertains toconstruct and use my improved curtain-stretcher, I will describe thesame more i'ully, referring to the accompanying drawings, in which-Figure 1 is a plan or side elevation-of my improved curtainstretcher.Fig. 2 is a crosssection on the line 2 2, Fig. 1, showing the frameopen. -Fig. 3 is a like view on the line 3 3, Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is anenlarged crosssection on the line 4 4, Figs. 1 and 6, showing theconnection between the side rails. Fig. 5 is a like View on the line 55, Fig. 1, at another point of said connection. Figs. 6 and 7 areenlarged side elevations showing the end connections for said rails.Figs. 8 and 9 are enlarged end and face views, respectively, of theclamping connection between the upper side and end rails. Figs. 10 and11 are like views of the lower side and end rails. Fig. 12 is across-section on the line 12 12, Fig. 3. Fig. 13 is a cross-section onthe line 13 13, Fig. 1. Fig. 14 is a cross-section on the line 14 14,Fig. 2. Fig. 15 is a sectional view showing the manner of holding thepins in the rails. the attaching hooks or pins. Fig. 17 is a plan viewof the same. Fig. 18 is a side view of the pivotal connection betweenthe middle rail and leg. Fig. 18a is a perspective view of Fig. 16 is aside view of one ofA the same and showing the rail and leg separated.Fig. 19 is a sectional view ofY the pivotal connection between the endrail and leg. Figs. 20 and 21 are views showing another form of hook andconnection.

Like symbols of reference herein indicate like parts in each of theiigures of the drawings.

As illustrated in the drawings, A is the frame of the stretcher, ofwhich 1 represents the two side rails or pieces, which are each formedfrom a piece of thin sheet metal and bent to form a channel shape incross-section, having a body la, the doubled flanged side edges 1', anda slotted portion 1, extending out from the inner side of said flangededges. The side rails 1 are made in two sections or portions and areconnected together at their ends by extensions 2, connected by bolts 2to one of said ends on one of said ortions and on each side of the sameand eac formed of a thin piece of sheet metal which is bent to form achannel shape of said side-rail portion to be secured thereto by saidbolts, while one side edge of the inner extension rits within the grooveformed by the doubled flanged edges 1, of said side-rail portionadjacent to the wing portion 1, and the other side edge of the same iitsaround the opposite doubled iianged edge of said rail. The body portionsof said extensions 2 beyond said rail are each provided with a slot 2therein, which terminates at its outer end by the rounded edge 2a. Aclamping-piece 3, of sheet metal, formed in like manner and shape,-iitsaround the flanged side edges 1 of the end of the other side-railportion 1, and such piece 3 carries the bolts 4 4', which pass throughsaid piece and' rail portion through the slots 2 in the extensions 2 andhave the head-plates4 on their rear ends adjacent to the body of saidrail portion, while the front ends of said bolts have the thumb-nuts 4athereon, as shown in Figs. 4 to 7. A center or intermediate rail 5, ofsheet metal, for the frame A is formed in like manner and of ashapevwith a grooved central portion 5 and grooved wing portions '5,extending out at right angles from the sides of said grooved portion5,1so that such rail 5 can be connected tothe side rails 1 by thehead-plates 4 o n the bolts 4 adjacent to the bolts 2', iitting withinsaid vgrooved wing portion 5, and such rails secured-together by IOOshown in Figs. 8 and 9.

screwing up the nuts 4a on said bolts 4, as shown in Figs. 5 and 12.Both the bolts 4 and 4 when screwed up hold the sections or portions ofthe side rails 1 together and the middle rails 5 to said side rails, asstated above, although the lower side rail can be adjusted along saidmiddle and end rails 6, as hereinafter described.

The two end rails or pieces 6 of the frame A are each formed from apiece of thin sheet metal and bent to form a channel shape, like theside rails 1, having body 6a, the doubled flanged side edges 6, and theslotted portions 6, extending out from the inner side of said flangededges. The upper ends of the end rails 6 are provided with the clamps 7,which are provided with the securing or body portion 7 thereon forfitting within the channel on the rear of said rails and for beingconnected to said rails by the screw-bolt 7, while from said bodyportion 7 and extending around the upper end of said rails is an arm 8,which has a depending portion 8 for projecting down in front of said endrails and upper side rail, so that said upper side rail can be insertedwithin and through said clamps 7 and be secured to said end rails bymeans of a thumb-screw bolt 9, passing through a threaded bearing 9 atthe end of said depending portion. These bolts 9 have a swiveled cap orhead 1() at their inner ends for engaging with the upper side rail 1 andwithin the channel thereof, While the outer ends of said bolts areprovided with a thumbpiece 10 thereon for operating the same, as The endrails 6 are also provided with the clamps 11 for holding and adjustingthe lower side rail 1 in conjunction with the bolt 4 on said rail 1,connecting the middle rail 5, and these clamps lit around said endrails, as shown in Figs. 10 and 11- A sliding or guiding portion 11 isformed on said clamps 11 for fitting within the channel of the end rails6 and against the body 6a thereof, and an upwardly-extending arm 1 1 isformed on the front of said clamps, so that the lower side rail 1 can beinserted within and through said clamp and be secured and adjusted tosaid rails 6 by means of a screw-bolt 12, passing through a threadedbearing 12 on the end of said arm. These bolts 12 have a swiveled cap orhead 13 at their inner ends for engaging with the lower side rail 1 andwithin the channel thereof, while the outer ends of said bolts areprovided with a thumb-piece 13 thereon for operating the same insecuring and adjusting the1 said lower side rail to and along said endrai s.

The frame A is provided with the end legs 14 and center leg 15, whichact as a support or easel B, with the rails 6 and 5 for setting saidframe in an inclined position, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and these legsare each formed from a piece of thin sheet metal and bent to shape inlike manner as the rails of the frame. The end legs 14 are formed inchannel shape, having a body portion 14 and doubled flanged side edges14, so that such legs can fit within the end rails 6 of the frame A, asshown in Fig. 14, with their body portions 14 resting against the bodyportions 6L of said end rails when the said legs and rails are closedtogether,l and such legs and rails are detachably'connected together bymeans of a screw-bolt 14a, passing through the flanged sides 14 and 6 ofsaid legs and rails, respectively, which bolt also permits the pivotingor hinging of said legs to said rails for the opening and closing of thesame. The center or intermediate leg 15 is formed in such shape as tofit around the middle rail 5 of the frame A, as shown in Fig. 12, and ithas a central grooved portion 15 for fitting around the grooved portion5 of said rail and flanged wing portions 15 on each side of said portion15 for tting against the grooved wing portions 5 on said rails when thesaid leg and rails are closed together, and such leg and rails aredetachably connected together by means of a screw-bolt 15a, passingthrough the sides of said legs and rail, which bolt also permits thepivoting or hinging of said leg to said rail for the opening and closingof these parts.

The curtain-attaching pins are shown at 16 in Figs. 14 and 15 and areformed from wire and bent to the shape shown, in which there is a mainportion 16 and from one end of which is the outer attaching portion 16,which is bent back and extends above and at an angle to said bodyportion for a short or suflicient distance. The other end of the bodyportion 16 is bent downwardly at right angles to said body portion 16,as at 17, and then such end is bent around and `under said body portionto form. the triangular portion 17, having the slightly-inclined rearportions 17, connecting such downwardly-extending portion 17. These pins16 are placed within the slots of the slotted portions 1 and 6 of therails 1 and 6, respectively, and are of such a shape and size that theapex of the triangular portion 17 will ht snugly against the outer end'walls of said slotted portions, while the vertical end portion 17thereon, connecting the main portion 16 with the triangular portion 17,will `lit snugly against the sidewalls of said rails, forming thechannel-sections thereof. This will permit the holding of the pins 16iny a placed or set position and will also enable them to be easilypushed along by hand to any position desired on account of the outerends of the inclined rear portion 17 being normally a slight distanceaway from the side walls of said rails, although to prevent theirpossible falling out of the slotted portions 1 and 6 in the rails 1 and6, respectively, an ordinary Cotter-pin 18 is remov- IOO IOS

IIO

ably secured in the ends of the said rails, as shown in Fig. 15.

The manner of assembling and using my improved curtain-stretcher is asfollows: In practice the stretcher is packed or shipped with the partsseparated or detached, with the exception of the easel or supports B forl the frame A, composed of the rails 5 and 6 and legs 15 and 14,respectively, which are connected together by the bolts 14a and 15,respectively, so that such rails and legs can be telescoped together,and in assembling the floor can be used, if desired, so that the twosections composing each of the side rails for the frame A with tae pins16 within the same can be placed or connected together by inserting theouter extension 2 on one end of one section to its position within theclamping-piece 3 on the end of the opposite railsection and the sideedges of the inner eX- tension 2 within the groove of the doubled flange1 and around the other flange 1 respectively, of said oppositerail-section. After this is done the middle rail 5, carrying its leg 14,can be connected to the rails 1, passing the head-plates 4 on the bolts4 vwithin the grooves of the wing portions 5 on said rail 5, and then bysliding the upper side rail 1 along said rails 5 and the lower side rail1 along the same to their` positions the said bolt and the bolts 4 canbe screwed up tight to hold said rails 1 together and to the middle rail5. The end rail 6, carrying their legs 15 and with the pins 16 withinthe same, can now be placed in position against the side rails 1 and beconnected thereto by means ofthe clamps 7 and 11 and their clampingbolts9 and 12, respectively, the upper clamps 7 and their bolts 9 beingcarried by and at the upper ends of the rails 6 and the lower clamps 11with their bolts 12 being separate from said rails, so that they can beplaced around said rails for securing the rails 1 and6 together and foradjusting the lower rail 1 along the rail 5 and rails 6. This adjustingcan be accomplished by unscrewing the bolts 4 and 12 and sliding thelower rail 1 along the rails 5 and 6, which will allow the said rail 1to slide and be held by the headplates 4 on said bolt 4 within thegrooved wings 5 on the rails and the rails 6 to slide through the clamps11, so that when the lower rail 1 is in its proper position the bolts 4and 12 can be again screwed up to hold the said rail 1 to the rails 5and 6. The frame A bein now attached to the easel or its supports thestretcher is ready for use, so that the legs 14 and 15 of said easel canbe opened to set the frame at an inclined position, and the legs 14 arelimited in such open movements by having their upper ends adjacent toand above itspivotal or hinged point 14h, Jformed by the bolt 14a, cutaway on an upward incline from the doubled flanged side edges 14, as at14C, and such side edges have their anges on such inclined portion bentin, as at 14d, in order to come against the body 6a of the rails 6 whenopened. The leg 15 is also limited to the same degree of movement as thelegs 14 by having its upper end adjacent to and above the pivotal orhinged point 15b, formed by the bolt 15a, cut away on an upward inclinefrom the doubled flanged or wingportions 15, as at 15", and such wingportions are bent out, as at 15d, in order to come against the ,wingportions 5 on the middle rail 5 in such opening movement, while theupper end of said rail 5 also has its central or body portion 5 inclineddownwardly from the wings 5 thereon, as at 5, and such inclined edgeflanged, as at 5b, in order that such upper end can movewithin the leg15 when such leg is opened out. After the legs 14 and 15, forming theeasel B, are thus opened out the curtain or other article to be placedupon the stretcher can be connected at its edges to the attachingportions 16 of the pins 16 in the rails 1 and 6, and such pins, ifnecessary, can be adjusted within the slotted portions 1 and 6l of saidrails by moving the same by the hand in case the curtain is worn at apoint or you are unable to catch hold of the same at avcertain point bythe attaching portions 16 thereon.

If desired, the rails 1 and 6 can be provided with stationary hooks orpins of any desired shape, such as the pins 16a shown in Figs. 2O and21, and any such pins can be passed through holes 16b in the grooved orslotted portions 1 and 6, respectively, of said rails and be securelyheld therein by bending or forcing down the said flanged portions aroundsaid pins, as shown in said Figs. 20 and 21.

It will be evident that the parts of thestretcherwhen not in use can beremoved and folded away by simply unscrewing the screw-bolts 4 4l andbolts 9 and 12 of the clamps 7 and 11, so that the rail-sections 1 canbe separated and the rail 5, with its leg 15, slid or removed therefromand the rails 1 from the rails 6 withinl said clamps, `after which therails 5 and 6 can have their legs 15 and 14 fold or telescope over thesame. This folding of the rails 5 and 6 of the frame, with their legs 15and 14, will enable the other sections of the rails 1 to be placedtogether with such folded parts, so that the stretcher will be broughtinto a small space or compass for storing away when not in use and forshipping, all the parts being at the same time retained together.

The shape of the clamps for the lower side rail and the central groovein the middle rail will enable such side rail to be moved from theeXtreme bottom of the rails 5 and 6 to the top rail 1 and set at anyposition thereon,

-while the overlapping or clamping conneca tion between the side railswill give a double IOO IIO

IIS

strength at such joint when the parts are brought together by the boltsat this point, thereby preventing any sagging or bending of these railsat such oint and giving additional strength at the point where thegreatest strain is had and the greatest support is needed.

The attaching-pins 16 are readily applied to the rails 1 and 6 byinserting the triangular portions 17 within the slotted portions 1 and 6at the ends of said rails and sliding said pins along, so that each pincan be moved to its desired point and each pin can be adjusted and heldwithout further attention from the operator and without any liability toslide or slip after an adjustment is once obtained, while at the sametime such pin can be moved or slid along said slotted portions by theoperator simply grasping the mainl portion 16 or attaching portion 16gently, and by a slight forward or backward movement of theA same toallow one inclined or rear portion 17 to assume a straight position withits slotted portion the pin can be slid along the same.

The parts composing my improved stretcher being formed of thin sheetmetal will permit the same to be galvanized, or, if preferred, they canbe formed of galvanized sheet metal, thereby enabling the frame andparts to be made more rigid and. less liable to sag and bend, as well aspreventing any injury to the curtains, &c., from rust, &c., which isfurther taken care of by the main portions of said hooks or pinscarrying the engaging ends being made of sul'licient length to keep thematerial of said curtain from contact with the parts of the frame.

Various modifications and changes in some of the parts and in the designof the parts of 'the stretcher may be resorted to without departing fromthe spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

1. A stretcher-frame comprising rails formed of sheet metal and bent toform channel shapes in cross-section having wings or extensions thereonfor the curtain-attaching ms. p 2. A stretcher-frame comprising railsformed of sheet metal and bent to form channel shapes in cross-sectionhaving slotted wings or extensions thereon for the curtainattachingpins.

3. A stretcher-frame comprising rails formed of sheet metal and bent to'forni channel shapes in cross-section having their sides provided withwings or extensions thereon for the curtain-attaching pins.

4. A stretcher-frame comprising rails formed of sheet metal and bent toform channel shapes in cross-section having their sides provided withslotted wings or extensions thereon for the curtain-attaching pins.

5. A stretcher-frame comprising rails formed of sheet metal and bent toform channel shapes in cross-section having doubled flanged sidesprovided with wings or extensions thereon for the curtain-attachingpins.

6. A stretcher-frame comprising rails formed of 'sheet metal and bent toform channel shapes in cross-section having doubled flanged sidesprovided with slotted wings or extensions for the curtain-attachingpins.

7. In a stretcher-frame, vthe combination of side rails formed insections and connected together, end rails, and an intermediate railformed of sheet metal, said intermediate rail having wing portionsthereon for engaging the side rails at the connecting-point to hold saidside rails in position and permit the same to be moved along said rail.

8. In a stretcher-frame, the combination of side rails formed insections, connections between said side-rail sections for holding thesame together, end rails and an intermediate rail formed of sheet metal,said intermediate rail having wing portions thereon for engaging thesaid rail connections to hold the said side rails in position and permitthe same to be moved along said rail.

9. In a stretcher-frame, the combination of side rails formed insections and connected together by screw-bolts, head-plates on saidscrew-bolts, end rails, and an intermediate rail formed of sheet metal,said intermediate rail being adapted to be engaged by the headplates onsaid bolts for holding said side rails in position and for permittingthe same to be moved along said intermediate rail.

10. In a stretcher-frame, the combination of side rails formed insections and connected together by screw-bolts, head-plates on saidscrew-bolts, end rails, and. an intermediate rail formed of sheet metal,said intermediate rail having Wing portions thereon for being engaged bythe head-plates on said bolts to hold said side rails in position and topermit the1 same to be moved along said intermediate rai 11. In astretcher-frame, the combination of side rails formed in sections,clamping connections between said sections having slots therein,screw-bolts iitting within said slots for holding said rail-sectionstogether, headplates on said screw-bolts, end rails, and an intermediaterail formed of sheet metal, said intermediate rail being adapted to beengaged by the head-plates on said bolts for, holding said side rails inposition and for permitting the same to be moved along said:intermediate rail.

12. In a stretcher-frame, the combination of side rails formed insections, clamping connections between said sections having slotstherein, screw-bolts fitting within said slots for holding saidrail-sections together, headplates on said screw-bolts, vend rails, andan intermediate rail formed of sheet metal1 said IOO IOS

intermediate rail having wing portions thereon for being engaged by thehead-plates on said bolts to hold said side rails in position and topermit the same to be moved along said intermediate rail.

13. A stretcher comprising a frame having its rails formed of sheetmetal, and legs or supports formed of sheet metal pivoted to said railsand adapted to telescope therewith.

14. A stretcher comprising a frame having its rails formed of sheetmetal, and legs or supports formed of sheet metal pivoted to said railsand bent to shape for telescoping with said rails and for being limitedin their outward movements.

15. A stretcher comprising a frame having its rails formed of sheetmet'al, and legs formed of sheet metal and bent to shape for telescopingwith said rails, said legs having their upper ends inclined for engagingwith said rails to limit the outward movement of the same.

1 6: An attaching-pin for curtain-stretchers formed of bent wire andhaving a body portion provided with an attaching portion at one end ofthe same and a triangular-shaped portion at the opposite end thereof.

1 7. An attaching-pin for curtain-stretchers formed of bent wire andhaving a body portion provided with an attaching portion at one end ofthe same and a triangular-shaped portion at the opposite end thereofhaving inclined rear faces thereon.

18. An attaching-pin for curtain-stretchers formed of bent wire andhaving a body portion provided with an attaching portion at one end ofthe same and a triangular-shaped portion at the opposite end thereof,said triangular-shaped portion being provided with inclined rear facesand being connected to said body portion by a vertical portion.

19. In a stretcher-frame, the combination of side-rail sections formedin channel shape from sheet metal, and means on the end of one of therail-sections for fitting within and around the end of the otherrail-section to hold the same together.

20. In a stretcher-frame, the combination of side-rail sections formedin channel shape from sheet metal, and two extensions on the end of oneof said rail-sections formed in channel shape from sheet metal onefitting Within the end of the other rail-section and the other over thesaine for holding said sections together.

21. In a stretcher-frame, the combination of side-rail sections formedin channel shape from sheet metal, two extensions on the end of one ofsaid rail-sections formed in channel shape from sheet metal one fittingwithin the end ofthe other rail-section and the other over the same forholding said sections together, and means for fitting over one of saidextensions and said other rail-section for securing the same in place.

22. In a stretcher-frame, the combination of side-rail sections formedin channel shape from sheet metal, two extensions on the end of one ofsaid rail-section'sformed in channel shape from sheet metal one fittingwithin the end of the other rail-section and the other over the same forholding said sections together, and a clamping-piece formed in channelshape from sheet metal and fitting over the outer one of said extensionsand said other rail-sections for securing the same in place.

23. In a stretcher-frame, the combination of side-rail sections formedin channel shape from sheet metal, two extensions on the end of one ofsaid sections formed in channel shape from sheet metal one fittingwithin the end of the other rail-section and the other over the same forholding said rail-sections together, a clamping-piece formed in channelshape from sheet metal and tting over the outer one of said extensionsand said other rail-section, and bolts passing through said extensions,clamping-piece and said other rail-section for securing the same inplace.

24. In a stretcher-frame, the combination of sid e-rail sections formedin channel shape from sheet metal, two extensions on the end of one ofsaid rail-sections formed in channel shape from sheet metal andprovidedwith slots in the body thereof, one of said extensions fittingwithin the end of the other railsection and the other over the same forholding said sections together, a clamping-piece formed in channel shapefrom sheet metal and fitting over the outer one of said extensions andsaid other rail-section, and bolts passing through the slots in saidextensions, clamping-piece and said other rail-section for securing thesame in place.

In testimony whereof I, the said HENRY ADLER, have hereunto set my hand.

HENRY ADLER.

IVitnesses:

J. N. COOKE, R. H. AXTHELM

